Thursday, February 24, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Author Gordon Kirkland to speak at writers' conference

The 2005 Las Vegas Writers' Conference, featuring author Gordon Kirkland as keynote speaker, will be March 3-6 at the Hampton Inn Tropicana, 4975 Industrial Road.

The event, with an admission of $250 for the entire conference or $195 per day, is sponsored by the Henderson Writers Group Inc. and Stephens Press. For more information, call (866) 869-7842.

A Meet the Authors book signing, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. March 5 at the hotel.

Kirkland, author of "When My Mind Wanders, It Brings Back Souvenirs" and "Justice Is Blind -- And Her Dog Just Peed in My Cornflakes," will give the keynote speech at 8 p.m. March 4. His subject is "Writing Humor -- Even on the Days You Don't Feel Funny." Kirkland is a member of the Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop faculty and has won Canada's Stephen Leacock Award of Merit for Humor.

Participants also can meet Deke Castleman of Huntington Press, Carolyn Hayes Uber of Stephens Press and Luther Wilson of the University of New Mexico Press.

Workshops and panels will focus on literary contracts, book proposals, law enforcement, editing, freelance tips, self-publishing, rejections and marketing.

Accredited literary agents will seek new authors at the event.